Silver price to rise 7% this year
According to the Silver Institute, demand for the precious metal in the solar industry will remain stable up to 2022, despite recent changes in China’s PV policy.
Amount of silver needed in solar cells to be more than halved by 2028, Silver Institute says
The US-based industry association finds the amount of silver loading may fall from 130 mg per cell in 2016 to approximately 65 mg by 2028. Alternative and cheaper raw materials, such as copper and aluminum, are not expected to replace silver in commercial cell production, at least in the next decade.
Demand for silver in global PV industry rose 19% in 2017, says Silver Institute
Approximately 76% of silver demand in the solar PV industry was used last year in frontside pastes, while the remaining 24% was used in backside pastes. Comoditization, however, is having detrimental effects on producers’ margins.
Solar materials demand boosts DuPont segment results
The chemical giant says that the growing PV market drove improved results in its electronics and communications division.
Solar demand is boosting silver prices, says Silver Institute
Two different reports highlight how PV demand is currently improving silver’s industrial offtake. The Silver Institute says that prices have increased 9% since the beginning of this year, while ETF Securities says that mining capital expenditure and investments are declining, and that this could further weigh on silver supply.
Debates about future demand for silver in PV continue
With silver use per cell falling as demand grows, two different consultancies have given different accounts of future demand for silver in PV applications.
